Dr. Michael Brown continues to drink the NAR Kool-Aid. Now only one party sounds patriotic...i wonder which one?

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Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. -- 1Peter 2:11-12 (ESV)

https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/in-the-line-of-fire/77085-do-you-remember-when-both-parties-sounded-patriotic

Most people caught up in the NAR think they are somehow doing God's will. They honestly believe that God wants them to get entangled in the carnality of politics. They confuse the personal conviction of the Holy Spirit within the believer with behavior modification of the lost. Many are low hanging fruit for one who discerns, such as Bill Johnson. Others have built up street cred for decades only to now blow it by supporting the unsupportable. Such is the curiously sad case of Dr. Michael Brown, learned theologian, esteemed author and NAR stooge. With each passing day Brown forgets His Lord and Savior in favor of the new god he serves -- America. Dr. Brown has long given up the pretense of being unbiased as he has fully bought into the NAR model that excoriates the Democratic Party and infers righteousness to the Republicans. An odd way to approach evangelism, Brown starts by alienating half the people who need the Gospel. He does so in such a rude manner as well, painting with a broad brush. Everyone who agrees with him is deemed worthy and those who oppose are mocked and sneered at. His latest offering is linked above asking if we remember when both parties sounded patriotic. Confrontational and delusional, this reveals how embedded his hatred has burrowed down. So, let us reason once more beloved remembering the key verses that Dr. Brown has obviously forgotten. As followers of Jesus Christ we are NOT supposed to be taking carnal sides. We are in fact pilgrims and sojourners merely passing through on our way to our true citizenship, which is found only in heaven. The passions of politics are but one of the sins that wage war against our soul. We must realize that those we come into contact with need to know the biblical truth of the Gospel and not our fleshly opinion about the politics of man. Our dealings with the world are supposed to be honorable, unlike the arrogance of Dr. Michael Brown.

'It wasn't that long ago that both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates sounded proud to be Americans. That, broadly speaking, both parties sounded patriotic, deeply appreciative of our heritage. That is certainly not the case today. One party is proud of America, the other ashamed. One party recognizes the serious errors of our past but sees a greatness beyond that. The other party sees us as defined by our errors and failings. On Saturday, I tweeted, "Do you remember the day (not that long ago) when both the Democrats and Republicans sounded patriotic?" In response, Raymond E. Grim commented, "This 4th of July I really saw the separation between the Rs and Ds on love of our country. The Rs talked about the greatness of our country. The Ds complained about President Trump and patriotism." And my colleague at Stream.org, John Zmirak, wrote, "Yep. The VENEER of patriotism was kept up under Obama, but only to allow him to 'fundamentally transform' the country. (Remember Michelle wasn't proud of America till HE GOT ELECTED.)"' -- Dr. Michael Brown

This is embarrassing to even have to discuss as Christians because it is nothing short of idol worship. First of all, the misrepresentation of Michele Obama's point is criminal here. Her point was celebrating the election of the first black president. This should be a point of national pride for all Americans, you know -- patriotism? However, many prefer to misrepresent and marginalize the first black president. We see right from the beginning that patriotism can mean different things to different people. For some it is looking back at the injustices done to African Americans in our name and how the election of Barack Obama is a time to celebrate. Not for policies but for progress. For other people, patriotism apparently means stealing the 4^th of July for political purposes. Giving speeches as president instead of letting the people celebrate. If anyone thinks the military preferred to be marching in a parade in 90-degree weather instead of being home with their families -- then your faux patriotism is really about you. Are we seeing the fact yet that patriotism is expressed differently by different people? For some it may be blind allegiance to whatever your country does. Most would consider this the type of "patriotism" seen the third world dictatorships, but I guess that can be one definition. For other people, patriotism can be filled with pride for the progress a country has made. Is one less or more patriotic than the other? I will leave that to carnal pundits because the larger point for us is it has nothing to do with the cause of Jesus Christ and His Gospel.

It is not surprising that it was a Republican, Senator Ted Cruz, who exposed Colin Kaepernick's selective quotations from Frederick Douglass, which Kaepernick posted on July 4th. The former NFL quarterback wanted Americans to remember the perspective of Douglass, who famously said, "What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? This Fourth of July is yours, not mine" And, "There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour." Sen. Cruz pointed out that this speech was delivered in 1852, more than a decade before the Civil War. That makes a big difference. Cruz then cited some of the closing words of this important speech, which included: "Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented, of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation, which must inevitably, work the downfall of slavery. 'The arm of the Lord is not shortened,' and the doom of slavery is certain." And, "I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope. While drawing encouragement from 'the Declaration of Independence,' the great principles it contains, and the genius of American Institutions, my spirit is also cheered by the obvious tendencies of the age."' -- Dr. Michael Brown

When you take one side regardless of the truth is when you end up sounding like a shill. Ted Cruz did not "expose" Kaepernick. The blacklisted quarterback tweeted a quote from Frederick Douglass:

"What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? This fourth of July is yours, not mine"there is not a nation on earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour." -- Frederick Douglass

Cruz soon tweeted that Kaepernick had taken the quote out of context. One point Cruz wanted to make was that this quote was from before the Civil War. Did you hear that collective sigh of nobody caring? That is because it is a useless point. Are Cruz and Brown espousing the notion that after the Civil War that life was no longer bloody and shocking for African Americans in this country? Or perhaps they feel that newly freed slaves should be grateful on some level. Either way, the quote was accurate and it apparently resonated with Colin Kaepernick. There are just two obvious follow up questions I have. The first is how someone quoting Frederick Douglass considered unpatriotic? That's right, it isn't. Secondly, what in the world does any of this have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Seriously. Michael Brown fancies himself an ambassador for Christ and a minister of His Gospel yet this has been nothing but a hit job on anyone who has the temerity to disagree with him on deeply personal matters.

"It is this note of hope, of national pride, of confidence in the solid foundations of our country, that is so lacking in today's Democratic Party:

--The Founding Fathers were bad men. (I can virtually guarantee you that the voting districts and educational institutions most upset with the Founding Fathers tilt heavily Democrat.)

--Capitalism is evil. (Oh, if only we were a socialist country!)

--Whiteness is shameful, especially when it is male whiteness. (And our country was founded by white men and is run by white men until this day.)

--Yes, we have a lot of apologizing to do. In fact, we need to apologize simply for being ourselves. It's embarrassing to be an American.

--Illegal aliens are heroes, and we are morally obligated to support them and provide their health insurance. In contrast, secure borders are selfish and a strong military is hateful." -- Dr. Michael Brown

Sigh. Has it really come to this Dr. Brown? Are you so desperate to worship your political idol that you are willing to smear half the population you are supposed to bring the Gospel to? That you are willing to absolutely lie for your new master? Let us debunk these one at a time:

The people who disagree with the NAR dominionist agenda do not have a poorer understanding or confidence in the solid foundations of this country Dr. Brown. They have a different one. This is really at the heart of the spiritual cancer you suffer from and spread. That disagreement must mean someone is anathema. That disagreement must mean someone is an enemy. Jesus looked past such carnal distinctions. When His people would never be caught dead with a Samaritan, Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. When she wanted to bring up the fundamental differences between her people and the Jews, Jesus dismissed them in favor of the Gospel. You ought to try that once Dr. Brown.

Secondly, I have never heard anyone claim the founding fathers were "bad men." I have heard some correctly point out that many were slave owners, or deists, or atheists -- which they were. It is when you and the NAR try to rewrite history to make them out to be martyred saints that people who understand history stand up and call nonsense. The truth is that the vast majority of the Founding Fathers would not be in an evangelical church -- guaranteed. You know what? That's ok. Just stop lying about them. Stop pretending they were all spirit filled believers who wrote the Declaration of Independence in tongues. Stop pretending they were the original editors of Charisma News. Just stop it.

Third, capitalism is no more evil than socialism. God did not espouse either as a nation organizing principle. Israel was a theocracy, which as a mode of government -- you could not survive in. Some people just believe that when the system is rigged to favor those in power and with money that is somehow not fair. You can disagree with that, which is what makes America great already. What you do not get to do is pretend that capitalism was part of the Sermon on the Mount and Lucifer was cast out of heaven for being a socialist.

It is not embarrassing to be an American or white. What is embarrassing is to be white and refuse to admit that you have an advantage in being so in our culture. The tone-deafness borders on stupidity to pretend otherwise. What is embarrassing is to pretend that because you are American you are somehow inherently better or even more righteous. The vast majority of the heresy in this world originated right here in the good ole USA. Deal with it.

Now you are embarrassing yourself Dr. Brown. No one said immigrants are heroes. Those that you refer to as illegal are not. It is not against our law to seek asylum. It is however morally bankrupt to deny entry at the correct points for asylum and then declare them illegal when they try to get in anyway. We do however have a moral obligation as human beings and I might add as Christians, to do no harm. To not treat them as lesser. So drop your nonsense about strong militaries and open borders. They are stale political talking points that are not reality based. If you want to stand on the side of doing harm, then good luck when you stand before Jesus.

"And on and on it goes, coming to a head on this Fourth of July. As John Nolte wrote, "Because Democrats and the media have to be (obscenity) about absolutely everything America-related, rather than join President Trump in celebrating America on the Fourth, they--no joke--raged against the idea of celebrating the birth of our great nation in our nation's capital." -- Dr. Michael Brown

Just so we know who Dr. Brown has crawled in bed with, John Nolte writes for Breitbart Fake News. Some of their best headlines have been:

"There is no Hiring bias Against Women in Tech; They Just Suck at Interviewing"

"Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy"

"The Solution to Online "Harassment" Is Simple: Women Should Log Off"

Those are just the anti-women top hits. Before you go thinking that is just the website, Nolte tweeted this past week that there is virtually no racism in America. That is who the Christian leader is cozying up with. The issue was not that Trump wanted to celebrate America, it was that he hijacked the country, the holiday and the military to hold a campaign event. Military who would have been better appreciated being allowed to celebrate with their families instead of being made to dress up and march for their leader like we were some banana republic. You can be patriotic without abusing the military and worshiping the president.

"Interestingly, while taking a taxi from Manhattan to LaGuardia airport this past Tuesday, my driver, who came to the States from Pakistan in 1992, said to me, "No one who moves to America from another country goes back home." Obviously, this was not meant to be a scientifically accurate statement, but the overall sentiment is undeniably true. America is the land of opportunity, incredibly so. America is the "can-do" country, where anything seems possible. America is the desired destination of countless millions who would love to make our country their home. America is the land of freedom. (When I asked on the radio this week, "What are some of the greatest strengths and weaknesses of our country?", one of my staff members replied, "The fact that we can have this conversation openly is one of our greatest strengths.")" -- Dr. Michael Brown

Yes, that is our greatest strength but you apparently do not believe so Dr. Brown. You believe that anyone who disagrees with you is not acting like a true America and that is the problem. The president wants to be the only president since Nixon to speak on the 4^th of July and some people think it is inappropriate. One group is not more "American" than the other. Teddy Roosevelt said it was treasonous to criticize those that would speak out against the president. The beauty of our system lies in our disagreements not in lock step servitude.

"Without a doubt, from a prophetic perspective, America has many serious needs and is guilty of many sins. Having written books referring to our sickly condition, I would be the last to dispute this assessment. And it is part of the duty of gospel ministers to call us to repentance and change. Count me in for that, on virtually a daily basis. But America is also an amazing country, a country with wonderful roots. And one would expect our political leaders to celebrate our heritage rather than denigrate it. Even political pragmatism would suggest that you would have a better chance of rallying voters by cultivating a healthy sense of national pride rather than a crippling sense of national shame. So, by all means, let's recognize our ongoing problems and address our very real shortcomings. But let's do so realizing that we really are privileged to live here in America, which was and is intended to be "the land of the free and the home of the brave." May our political leaders take heed." -- Dr. Michael Brown

Yes, but when your opening position is that one political party is righteous and the other evil you have long since left the confines of scripture, reality and sanity. People are not hesitant to celebrate our heritage Michael. They are leery to celebrate something you have made up. Our roots are not always wonderful and that is ok Dr. Brown. We do not have to lie and pretend that we were once under covenant with God when we never were. Pride in a fantasy is no better than shame in reality but at least your can learn from one of them. Take heed Dr. Brown. This article is just another in your recent run of NAR dominionist worship. I would point you back to the key verses Dr. Brown and remind you that you are but a pilgrim and a sojourner passing through this land. Start acting like it and stop worshiping the carnality of America.

Anthony Wade -- July 10, 20198

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.